Clinton’s Hidden Gem …
What makes a small town attractive to visitors and residents alike? Small town feel, cute townscape, Coffee shop, public green, waterfront property, water views, Marina, … ?
So what does Clinton have (in addition to the above) the other CT shoreline towns do not?
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The center of our town has water views from its downtown Main Street! No other downtown from Branford to Old Saybrook has a direct water view like this.
But town buildings hinder this view …
Find out what's happening in Clintonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Consider … you must now peak around and between the Clinton Town Hall, the Town Office Annex and the Chamber of Commerce building to even get a glimpse of the water as you walk or drive by on Main Street.
Plus … If you drive around behind the Clinton Town Hall you will find a parking lot, Porta Johns and trash bins lining the property overlooking the marsh … we can do better!
But … Also back there is a little used and probably little known walkway, small boat dock and cupola called McCusker Landing as well as the entrance to the “Elliott Preserve” which is an 18 acre natural meadow that can be explored. This acreage overlooks the Indian River, marsh and Long Island Sound in the distance. (See ClintonLandTrust.org)
So … What can we do to change this - to maximize the view and unmask Clinton’s Gem?
The older building housing the Chamber of Commerce standing between the two Town Hall brick buildings should be raised and new open space created and rebuilt as a new town “Mini Green”.
This new mini green would dramatically improve visual access to the water from the street and also provide pedestrian access to McCusker Landing and the Elliott Preserve … and at the same time the town should clean up and redesign the large parking lot area behind Town Hall to make it more integral to the new mini green.
Imagine being able to sit in your lawn chair in this newly created open space and enjoy a vista that looks south over the marsh, Indian River, and Long Island Sound in the distance …Then walk to the entrance of the 18 acre Elliott Preserve, McCusker Landing and refreshed parking areas.
Granted - This would require a significant investment from the town budget, and/or private donations. The first step however is to see if there is any support? Should we at least try to get this idea on the town agenda? - What say you?
Don Epperson, Clinton CT 6/13/19
